- Get Enough Sleep. Not getting enough rest increases risks of weight gain, accidents, reduced
memory and heart problems.
6 ) Create Joy and Satisfaction. Positive emotions can boost your ability to bounce back from
stress.
Eat Well. Eating healthy food and regular meals can increase your energy, lower the risk of
developing certain diseases and influence your mood.
Take Care of Your Spirit. People who have strong spiritual lives may be healthier and live
longer. Spirituality seems to cut the stress that can contribute to disease.
Deal Better with Hard Times. People who can tackle problems or get support in a tough
situation tend to feel less depressed.
Get Professional Help if You Need It. More than 80 percent of people who are treated for
depression improve.
These steps, and concrete suggestions for achieving mental wellness, are summarized on the
MHA wellness website, http://www.liveyourlifewell.org/go/you-can-live-life-well-more.
The Evidence
The concrete steps suggested by the website are not based on guesses, fads or advice from
grandma (though she probably got a lot right). They represent hundreds of research studies
with thousands of participants, cited on the website.
This research shows that there are several evidence based approaches to help individuals
handle stressful situations effectively and protect their wellbeing. No matter how stressful your
situation, you can take steps to promote your well-being.